MySDMoms.com

For San Diego Moms and Moms-To-Be

Most Parents Admit They Snoop On Their Kids’ Phones

By Leave a Comment

A recent study of 2,000 parents of school-age kids in America focused on the challenges of parenting in the digital age.

The study found that three-quarters of those parents regularly snooped on their kid’s phones to see what they were up to in the online world.

Turns out a big majority of those parents…about 84%…believe that they are perfectly within their right to investigate their child’s device and are doing it to protect their kids.

Many of these parents admit that they don’t know exactly what they’re looking for when they look into their device activity and that many feel that their kids are already more tech-savvy than they are, which makes protecting them all the more difficult.

The biggest concerns parents have are their child’s activity on social media and who they might be talking to there, and the kinds of photos and videos they are exposed to – or sharing themselves.

If you can get past the ad content, the video below has an overview of what the research, conducted by ParentWise, found.

Read more about this story here.

Terrifying Video Shows Child Danger When Dresser Drawers Topple

By Leave a Comment

This video will scare any parent.

A young boy in Thailand is playing in a living room area when the chest of drawers he is playing with topples toward him while another child looks on.

We’re very happy to report that the child doesn’t appear to be injured as he seems to scramble out of the way just in time, only to be caught by the edge of the furniture before making it away to safety.

Hearing the noise from upstairs, we assume that it’s mom who comes running to his aid.

This is a good lessen for parents to secure top-heavy furniture, TVs and appliances and to keep tempting things off high shelves.

For more ideas and tips to protect youngsters, visit the US Gov site AnchorIt.

Share this story so other parents know the dangers!

Tips to Help Dads Connect with Daughters

By

When you as a father show a genuine interest in your daughter and treat her with respect, you’re sending a very positive message to her. You’re telling her that all men should treat her in a similar manner. And darn it…they should!

Of course you want the best for your little girl, you want her to be safe, strong. You want her ready for anything – to face any challenge that comes her way, without worrying about her being over powered by some disrespectful guy. You certainly don’t want her seeking out dysfunctional relationships because of the way she was raised by her father. It’s important to be able to take a step back, look at your relationship with your daughter and evaluate it…leaving your pride and “Don’t tell me how to raise my kid” attitude behind you. Think to yourself what is best for your little girl.
Whether you or someone you know need help building a positive dad/daughter relationship or maybe just need a reconnect. There are some great tips here to help you on your way.

A great first step is to get involved in your daughter’s life. We all have rough, long days at work and put up with enormous loads of crap from people, but you’re a parent. You don’t get to come home after work and immediately turn on the TV or flip on your iPad? Reevaluate your priorities. By getting involved with at least one aspect of your daughter’s life, you will see a change in how connected the two of you are. Try maybe coaching her sports team or have dinner with the family a few times a week. Get to know the dads in her social circle is huge. Then you’re all on the same page.
Respecting her mother is and your own mother will speak volumes to your little girl about how men treat women. It will show her what she should expect in the future. Think about it this way. You love your daughter more than anything so always treat your wife the way you want your daughter’s future husband to treat her. Trust me, she is watching you for cues on how to behave with men.

Also hug her! Don’t EVER forget…no matter how old your daughter gets, never stop showing her affection. Hugs may not seem welcome when she’s a teen and is acting like she is embarrassed to be around you, but studies show that the teenage years are the most formative time for a young girl’s self-esteem. She needs those hugs – especially from her father.

To read more, go to sandiegofamily.com

Parenting Things You Don’t Realize You’re Doing Because You Had A Toxic Mother

By

Just because you have become a mother, that doesn’t mean you stop being someone’s child. The effects of an abusive, toxic, or damaging mother can be passed down through generations without you even knowing it. New mothers hoping to take their parenting down another, non-toxic direction have a tough road to travel.

Kathryn Smerling, Ph.D., LCSW, a family therapy professional who practices in Manhattan states, “There is an axiom in family therapy known as repeat and repair; you either repeat the same mistakes or repair them. Either you mindlessly keep the same cycle going that you experienced as a child or you decide to be the one to make the change. To stop a hurtful cycle in its tracks, you have to understand what about your childhood worked, and what didn’t. You can educate yourself about healthy parenting practices, and put your knowledge to work each day as you endeavor to break the cycle.”

Try hard not to let the past creep up on the present. These damaged roots influence just about everything in our lives — and go much deeper than you realize. The past is a part of you. The way you were raised influences psychological and emotional development. It can hinder your ability to move on in this world with purpose and comfort.

One thing we often do when trying to change patterns is overcompensation.  Keep in mind though that trying to be the perfect parent all the time is incredibly stressful, and sadly, usually doomed to fail. You’re not Supergirl and shouldn’t try to pretend to be. Relax, take lots of deep breaths and be aware of your actions and what you’re trying to overcome.

Possibly one of the most important things to remember is to not forget about self-care. It’s so vitally important to remember to make time for self-care. Yoga classes, therapy, artistic pursuits, and hobbies. Remember what they tell you on a commercial airline flight – secure your own oxygen mask before helping others. It translates into many facets of life – you are no good to others if you can’t function properly yourself.

Don’t give up and DON’T GIVE INTO ANGER. Once you give in to anger and frustration you have lost. Stay on course, taking time for yourself when you feel overwhelmed. Talk to your spouse, friends and family for support.

To read more about this topic, go to romper.com

Disturbing New Phone Scam Makes Parents Think Their Kids Have Been Kidnapped

By

One of a parent’s worst fears is their child being kidnapped. The thought is so horrific to parents that just imagining it is almost too much to handle. We do everything in our power to assure that our children are safe and sound. According to recent reports out of Washington State, a scammer is taking advantage of those fears and is pretending to kidnap kids and demanding ransom from their parents.

Recently, mom Kelly Nelson took a call from a blocked number and heard a little girl crying out for her mother in the background. Kelly assumed it was just a wrong number, but then as her hear dropped, she had her worst nightmare realized. A man got the phone and said, ‘is this Kelly? We have Rebecca.'” Nelson had just dropped Rebecca, her 13-year-old daughter, off at school that morning.

Nelson says that a man with an accent told her that he had kidnapped Rebecca and was going to hurt her if Kelly didn’t pay him. According to the mother, the man debated the ransom amount before finally settling on $500. As the “kidnapper” and Nelson debated a location point to exchange the ransom, the mother made a point to take careful notes so she could remember what he was saying.

As soon as Nelson hung up the phone, she immediately told her husband to call her daughters’ school. School administrators were quickly able to confirm that the couple’s daughters were safe and in class. Kelly promptly got the police involved and stated,”Until I could say my kid was at school, I was just in panic mode.”

Sgt. Ryan Abbott from the King County Sheriff’s Office stated that local police aren’t sure if the scammer has targeted more than these two families. But they’ve issued an official warning to parents to stay alert just in case. Sgt. Ryan said, “If it seems like a scam, if everything doesn’t seem to add up, then you’re probably right into another scam. Don’t ever give them any personal information.”
If you or any other parents feel like you have been targeted by this scam, they should write down as much information about the call as they can remember, and immediately call the police to report it.

Read more at thestir.cafemom.com.

 

Categories

RSS Kaiser Permanente: Health Research